I was browsing around and I found this book series called Maximum Ride, science fiction/fantasy series written by the award-winning American author, James Patterson, starting from April 19, 2005 and continuing to the present. There are currently five titles in the Maximum Ride series, the latest one was released on March 16, 2009.

The over-all plot follows six rebels on the run from a labratory they call the "School". The oldest is Maximum Ride(Max) who is 14 and the leader. The 6 children genetically cross-bred with avian DNA, complete with wings, take flight cross-country to discover their origins. Together,they make up a flock and they must run from the second and only other school experiment to make it past infancy besides themselves: Erasers. They are part human and part wolf and can change at will into either form. The most famous Eraser, Ari is the Flocks sworn enemy and head of the project.

The books have also been transl;ated into a Manga and in January 2007, it was announced that a film would be created based on the Maximum Ride series. The movie is scheduled for a 2010 release date.

I found many dark angel similarities in these books:
"genetic experiments on teenagers? Check. Main girl named Max? Check. On the run from the scientist that created them? Check. Now, I used to love Dark Angel for the first season, then the second season got a little strange as they tried to explain too much. Actually, by the third Maximum Ride book, I was beginning to feel like they were trying to add too many layers as well. Anyways, I digress; Dark Angel entertained me, and I highly recommend it as a mindless distraction. The whole first season is basically, ÃƒÂ¢Ã¢â€šÂ¬Ã…â€œLook, Max is sexy and kick ass! Look, Logan is sexy and smart!ÃƒÂ¢Ã¢â€šÂ¬Ã‚Â and some days, you just need that in your life."
http://yafantasy.com/maximum-ride/Has anyone read it?

Wow these are alooott of parallels with Dark Angel. Iam a bit shocked now ^^ Remember that Cameron used the name Max in combination of "Maximum" as the titel of these book ^^i'll do some research about this all tomorrow and comment more later when i know more. Anyways thxs for it Dean.

As a matter of fact, James Patterson released his first in the Max series in 1998. It's the adult version titled "When the Wind Blows". Maximum and 5 companions escape the School.

James Cameron seems to have taken the idea from Patterson, and not the other way around. I read the Patterson series' (both, but started with "When the Wind Blows", which is nearly a prequel to the "Maximum Ride" series) and found out about "Dark Angel" through a friend who remembered the series when I was describing "When the Wind Blows" to her.

wow, ok, thats an eye opener, didn't know that. could be. Cameron was accused of getting inspired by a number of other shows and stuff. But i remember that i also was doing a comic about a teenage boy that was genetically engeniered to be a soldier by the government then escaped and i hadn't watched or heard of DA, so may be great minds think alike.

Seriously same idea area but they aren't that alike the original novels don't feel anything like Dark Angel... not only that but they are very over written and it just feels like they are missing a heart.

Max/ red lasers ( which has been used to death)- every idea starts as a new take on a cliche storyline... it's where it's taken.
They are two very different stories.

And the new one- could be considered DA styled among others (a revamp of Max's character in the least) and Patterson had something going I just think he started to lose it lately.

" When you think you see me I'm not there because you left me behind"

An alternate ending for AJBAC, all because of one thing, Logan is captured by Manticore while Max got away. Inside of Manticore, struggling to hold onto his sanity, his identity, Logan has nowhere to hide. Will he survive to escape, or will Lydecker destroy him first?